Tongue-switch.



C. C. CHAMBERS.

TONGUB SWITCH.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 3, 1913.

Patented May 12, 1914.

J8 zz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CONNOR C. CHAMBERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TONGUE-SWITCH.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, CONNOR C. CHAMBERS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tongue- Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tongue switches and more particularly to devices of this character used in street railways.

The object of this improvement is to provide a simple and effect-ive tongue switch in which the tongue thereof is prevented from vertical movement and is easily removed from the base portion of the switch.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a tongue switch embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a section of the same taken on line 2--2 in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a fragmental side elevation of the tongue switch, and Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are enlarged fragmental sections taken on lines 4 4, 5-5 and 6--6 respectively in Fig. 1.

The preferred form of construct-ion as illustrated in the drawing comprises a base 7 having at its upper side a main-rail portion 8, a branch-rail portion 9 and a guard-rail portion 10. Between the faces of main-rail portion 8 and guard-rail portion 10 is a recess 11 and at the end of said recess adjacent the branch-rail portion 9 is a socket 12. Mounted in recess 11 is a tongue 13, the latter being provided with a head 14 and said head 111 is pivotally mounted in the recess 12.

Disposed laterally through main-rail portion 8 and guard-rail portion 10 are lateral perforations 15, the perforations 15 through main-rail portion 8 are preferably rounded at their edges so that there will be no sharp corners in said perforation. The reason for this is that the rail is less susceptible to cracking when the perforations 15 therein are formed without any sharp corners. Formed integrally with, or secured to the tongue 13, are arms 16 which extend laterally therefrom and through the perforations 15. The arms 16 are suiiiciently small in cross section to permit of the tongue 13 Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Application led November 3, 1913.

Patented May 12, 1914.

Serial No. 798,883.

swinging' on its pivotal connection between its head 14 and socket 12. In the branchrail il() immediately above perforations 15 are provided notches in which are removably secured blocks 17. The blocks 17 are preferably dove-tailed in said notches and are pro-Y vided to lock the arms 16 in said perforations. The under side of main-railsection S is cut away under perforations 15 therein, as at 18 in l `ig.2, to permit of arms 16 which are in the perforations of main-rail S to be moved vertically as indicated by the dotted line position of the arms 16 in Fig. 2.

Secured to the base 7 is a housing 19 over each of the protruding ends of arms 16 and they are. adapted to protect the extended ends of such arms. Each of the housings 19 is provided with a detachable cap 2O so that said housings may be opened for examination or repair.

In operation, the tongue 13 is swung in the groove l1. with a suitable tool, not shown, in the same manner that conventional switches are operated. When it is desired to remove the tongue 13 from the switch, caps 2O are removed from the housings 19 on the side of base 7 next to the guard-rail 10 and blocks 17 withdrawn from their notches in said guard-rail. The arms 16 which extend through the perforations of guardrail 10 are then manually swung vertically from their full line position to their dotted line position indicated in Fig. 2. Then the tongue 13 and arms 16 are moved longitudinally of said arms to withdraw the arms 16 which arc in the pcrforations of mainrail portion 8 from such perforations. In replacing the tongue 13 the order of procedure just described is reversed as will be readily understood. To facilitate removing head 14 from socket 12 the sides thereof are rounded and it is made slightly thinner than tongue 13 as clearly shown in Fig. 4. This particular' form greatly facilitates removing and replacing the tongue 13 as will be readily understood.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into eilect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the preciso details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

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Having described my invention what l claim new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device of the kind described comprising a base having removable portions and a socket in its upper face; a recess adjacent said socket and pertorations extending laterally from said recess; a switch tongue in said recess and having a head 'pivoted in said socket; and arms on said tongue and disposed in said perforations; said portions removably securing said arms in said perforations, substantially as described.

2. A device of the kind described comprising a base having a socket and dove-tail notches in its upper face; a recess adjacent said socket and pertorations extending laterally from said recess; a switch tongue in said recess and having a head pivoted in said socket; arms on said tongue and extending through said perforations; and blocks in said dove-tail notches removably securing said arms in said perforations, substantially as described.

3. A device of the kind described comprising a base having track-rail and guardrail portions; a recess between the faces of said track-rail and guard-rail portions and lateral perforations through said portions; a

switch tongue in said recesses and pivotally connected with said base and arms on said switch tongue extending therefrom into said periiorations;v there being removable portions in said guard-rail permitting the removal of said arms from the perforations therein, substantially as described.

4. A device of the kind described comprising a base having track-rail and guardrail portions; a recess between the faces of said track-rail and guard-rail portions and lateral perforations through said portions;

a switch tongue in said recess and pivotally connected with said base; arms on said switch tongue lextending therefrom into said perforations, there being notches in the top of said guard-rail portions downwardly to the pertorations therein adapted to permit removal of said arms therefrom; and blocks removably secured in said notches locking said arms in the perforations of said guardrail portion, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CONNOR C. CHAMBERS.

Witnesses JosI-IUA R. H. Po'rrs, HELEN F. LrLLIs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents` each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents,

Washington, D. C. 

